Healthy Bacteria May Lead to Long Life

In the past few years, scientists have begun to uncover the multitude of ways in which the community of bacteria living in the our intestines, known as the microbiome, can impact our health. Not only do these (benign) bacteria help with metabolism and digestion, shifts in it are linked to a wide range of conditions including cancer, and diabetes, and perhaps even depression. In a recent study, researchers tracked how gut bacteria change with age – and then found a way to essentially turn back the clock, returning the microbiome to a more youthful state and extending lifespan.